Dr Narender Goel MD (Internal Medicine and Nephrology) [email protected] Financial Disclosure: None, Conflict of Interest: None 12th December 2013, New York Visit us at: http://kidneyscience.info/

WHAT ARE THE COMMON CAUSES OF KIDNEY DISEASES? Kidney diseases are often seen as chronic kidney diseases (CKD) or acute kidney injury (AKI) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). If the kidney dysfunction persists for >3 month then it is known as CKD while ESRD is defined when patients with CKD requires dialysis or kidney transplantation. AKI is represented by gradual or sudden decrease in kidney function (estimated by blood creatinine level) over relatively short duration. a) High blood sugar (Diabetes Mellitus) and high blood pressure (hypertension) are two most common causes of kidney diseases. b) Diseases of filter (glomerulus) such as glomerulonephritis (inflammation of glomerulus) or nephrotic syndrome (glomerulus leaking large amount of protein in the urine), diseases of vessels such as due to thickening or narrowing of arteries, inflammation or damage of tubules due to infection or allergic reaction to medications may also cause kidney diseases. c) Many herbal medications and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as ibuprofen, naproxen etc also can cause kidney disease.

d) Many infections such as HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C can also cause kidney disease. e) Obstruction of urine flow by enlarged prostate in older male is also known to cause kidney damage. WHAT ARE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF KIDNEY DISEASES? People may start feeling symptoms when kidney function has decreased significantly, often below 30 % or 20% (NORMAL KIDNEYS WORKS 100%). Blood tests may start showing disturbances when kidney function is decreased below 60% (GFR90 but with abnormal urine findings or kidney structural abnormalities. Stage 2: GFR 60-90 Stage 3: GFR 30-59 Stage 4: GFR 15-29 Stage 5: GFR